Singapore

SG Ho Bee taken to court for condo defects

Property developer Ho Bee Investment is being sued for failure to fix termite-infested pool decking as well as flooded staircases at the 249-unit The Coast in Sentosa Cove, according to media reports.

The case was filed in Singapore's High Court by the managers of the property on behalf of 108 homeowners. Three contractors are also being sued.

“Complaints from residents to developers happen all the time but it’s not that common for it to go to court,” said Vikrant Pandey, Singapore-based analyst at UOB Kay Hian, who gave the developer a “buy” rating.

“It will slightly tarnish their image, but you have to see their track record for their other projects too,” he added.

The first condo developer in Sentosa Cove, Ho Bee has completed five projects within the area. Among them is The Coast, which promises to “provide an unparalleled setting” with its waterfront apartments offering views of the sea.

In July, a 3,100 sq ft unit at The Coast was sold for S$4.5 million while a 2,024 sq ft apartment went for S$3.6 million in April, revealed data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

Denying the allegations, Ho Bee blamed the defects on the negligence of the management corporation. The development was completed in April 2009 and responsibility for its maintenance fell on the property’s managers in December 2010, the developer said.

Desmond Woon, Executive Director of Ho Bee, stated that he could not comment on the lawsuit, while Edwin Lee, lawyer for the homeowners, also declined to comment.